Combined opener and pour spout



A ril 22, 1952 J. K. M. HARRISON COMBINED OPENER AND POUR SPOUT FiledOct. 24, 1947 J 3 a 4 a, w w J 2 w I \,a W W 2 6 7 (4 4 x w W Q mPatented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED OPENER ANDPOUR SPOU'I John Kearsley M. Harrison, Gainesville, Va.

Application October 24, 1947, Serial No. 781,973

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to container openers of the self-dispensing typeand more particularly to openers of the type that are used withcontainers having a longitudinal body member of chipboard or the likewhich is closed at both ends by discs of cardboard, plastic, or likematerial.

Containers of one type to which the present invention is applicable aredescribed in patents to J. K. M. Harrison such as the containerdescribed in Patent No. 2,261,621 issued November 4, 1941. In general,the Harrison containers are cylindrical although the invention may beused in connection with containers of other cross section and are closedat each end by a disc. The ends of the cylindrical container wall arespun inwardly and downwardly to form disc-retaining annuli.

The development of a dispensing opener to work with containers of theforegoing type has presented many difficulties. Ideally the constructionshould be simple and economical to reduce original cost and should beeasy and positive in action so as to assist service station attendantsand others who use such dispensers in the prosecution of their work. Ithas been found desirable to effect a two-stageopening of containers ofthe Harrison type; the first stage involving displacing the end disc andthe second stage involving holding that disc in such a position as notto obstruct the passageway of the pour spout. One development alongthese lines has involved the disposition of a cutting memher and adisc-positioning member within a container provided with a pour spout.The operation of this assembly is first to pass the opener over the endof the paper container to be opened and to strike a sharp blow causingthe disc to be displaced and positioned in a non-obstructing positionrelative to the top end of the open container. This construction, whileaffording many advantages, has the disadvantage that once the openinghas been effected the dispensing can and the containing can are notlocked together, and thence, cannot be safely used except in fullyinverted position. Furthermore, any difference between the dischargerate of the inner paper container and the spout attached to the outerdispensing container must be compensated for by a very long skirt on thedispensing container to catch any oil that may flow therealong and tendto spill out.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing diificulties areovercomeand a pour spout is provided which tightly engages the en tireand edge. of a container simultaneously with 2 the displacement of theend disc of that container so that the original storage container can,and does, function as a dispensing container with resulting economies inthe construction of the dispenser and in the time of the operator who isusing it.

It is contemplated, in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention, to provide a vented dispensing spout which can berapidly'engagedwith a container of the Harrison type: and which isleakproof and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent uponconsideration of the following detailed description of severalembodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein: a

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a preferred self-dispensingopener constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, said opener being shown in the position assumed therebyimmediately prior to the opening of the container;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l showing partially in verticalsection and partially in elevation the position of the apparatusimmediately inclusive, the assembly comprises a pouring nozzle or funnelportion I!) which is provided with (integral spaced annular flanges I land which are adapted to grip and receive therebetween the end edge of acontainer l3. The inner annular flange I2 is provided with a port at Mand the bottom of the groove defined between'the flanges I! and I2, is aplate ll which is held in I position by. a screw [8 which is threadedinto the body portion of the spout assembly. The plate 11 is providedwith a bearing I9 for the reception of a rod 20 for verticalslidingmovement therein. The rod 20 is provided at one end with a stop2|, and at the other end with a Between thestop. and. the" plate I! Ihas; is sa ed. a hs 'e were? sib in 3 the thrust of which tends to biasthe rod 20 to the position shown in Figure 2.

Above the plate l1, and held in position by the screw l8, there is astrainer screen 24 of conventional construction. To the right of theplate H, as it is shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a tubularvent member 25 which establishes communication through the pour spoutassemblyfromthe interiorzone defined by the flange l2 to the exterioratmosphere. I Thepurpose of this vent will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

If reference is made to the portion of the container that is shown inFigure. 1; it will :benoted that the end closure assembly isvmaintainedin position by close contact against the-inner wan of the cylindricalcontainer and by abead'26 which is formed by spinning over the end ofthe cylindrical wall of the container. fit into the outside of the endclosure disc I6 and protects the-joint of that disc withthebead 26.

-- -Ori' the inneriacebf disc 16' is a disc-'28-'of.'nonfibrousmaterialsuch: as cellophane. *or' parch- -ment or P thermoplasticmaterials. J The I disc J 2 B is firmly bonded-to'fthe inner face 'of'thelclosure disc I6 as by glue, which, however, does .not extend -t'othe edges of the disc 16." The'dis'c 28 laps overtheedges ofthe disc'lfi and is bonded in this i regions-to the inner wall of' the containerby glue.

In the formation-""of the container the. interior.

wall of the cylindrical portion is :coated with an adhesive 2 9:Whichistacky at the time 10f insery tion of"--the-closure disc assembly."The closure disc asse'rnbly is a very tight fitin the" tubular body andis preferably of aslightly greater-mama eter than the internal diameter:ofithe body Consequently;-as the disc 'asse'mblyzis thrust. into -placeit scrapes up a-portion'ofi' the adhesive 29 --into-anannular fillet'30, andizthe'fi'llet, together "-"with .the adhesive'which' remainsbetween the wall oi the I cylinder. and the disc '28 firmly cementsthese two elements together. 3..Thus;.' the con- '-tainer is" cl0sed'ateachendby a composite disc --held in placeprimarily bytight'engagement with *the wansanabyme bead 26; while 'thliquid andvapor type-sal -is: :providedby. the'disc' 28 which is bonded in itscentral area to disc 'lfiand at its edges to the inner wall oflthecylindrical portion ---ofthe container while having an-intermediateportion'free o'f both the wall and the disc. Since the disc ldisnonfibrous and maybe comprised of parchment, the container..m'ay'rbe'opened by "'--the-applicationof pressureon'the top edge'of the "-disc'fl near its margin the pressure. functioning '=--to tearthe:parchmentandzto'rbreakthe fillet sufi ficiently to permit-thedisc'assemblyto move from- -..tion.. I5- of\ flange I2 lie in the samehorizontal gfplane; depending portion l5 beginsto bear direbtlyag'aihstalportion of. the margin of. the ..end.. closuredisc..' As movementinflthe direction -;.Jioif-"the arrow continues; the-parchment disc .23and the fillet?!) are ruptured first immediately :thatflow into'thepour. spout is not obstructed.

Inother words, movement of the disc into an obstructing position at themouth of the container is prevented by the action of the rod 20, thestop 22' of which is in bearing engagement with the .upper disc 2'! ofthe end closure assembly.

A small disc -21 is ,"The'annular space defin'ed between the flanges Hand I2 is such as to receive tightly the bead *26'of the container. Thisbeing the case, it is not necessary to provide a long skirt on theoutside ofthe'container [3 to prevent leakage or to .insure themaintenance of a: good .fit between. the pour spout assembly and thecontainer. 7

In Figure 4 there is shown a modified form of apparatus foraccomplishing. much the same type of result as that set forth 1 above..lnsthis'case a -spoutassemblyi ifl isprovided with depending -anfiulaiflanges 4| 'and 142 which are adapted to fitover the bead at the topendlof a.Harri'son type container. The inner .fiange 42 is provided"with a -depending portion 43 corresponding in ii structure and functionto the part! 5 described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.: Similarly,the fiang fl isprovided with a vent :aperture at 44.

Another vent aperture from...theinterior of v the 'space defined by the'flanger42 to'atmosphere is provided by the port 45. Screw lfifsupportsin position a strainer 41 and a springimember 43,

"the .function 1 of which corresponds generally to 40 thefunction of therod 29 and'xthe spring and stops associated-therewith.

In the'operation of the'device showniiniFigure 4 the depending portion43 breaksloose. the'end -closuredisc and the springr48 insures. themaintenance of the disc .in nonobstructingposition relativ'eto" the pourspout. It'willbe'understood that" the material'of which spring "48 ismade will be'of suchstrengthandresiliency that the spring :is'compressedu'ntil the depending portion 43 has .1 actedandthereafterserves to maintain the end uclosure disc-out of flow'-obstr.uctingposition.

iLIn-rdescribing Figures 1-4. inclusive reference has been'made'tovents-25 and 45 and to ports l4-and 44. I The vents'25 and 45 are forthe purforthe purpose'of releasing air which may become trapped betweenthe top of the end closure disc and thespace defined by the flanges l2and "42, as the case may be, so that the end closure disc' will beknocked out sharply'bythe action "of the depending portions l5 and 43respectively and not by compressed air. The ports l4 and 44 "alsofunction to permit oil to fiowout'from 'behind the annular pocketdefined between the flanges l2 and 42 and the respective .inner walls ofthe container during the icompletion'of the draining operation.

While this invention has been. described with respect to-but twoembodiments thereof, it is to she understood that othermodificationsyofathei ine vention are contemplated so? long.:as:meanszare :provided to grip the 'end.;flange' of a; container whilerigid means knock out the end disc and resilient means hold the end discout of flowobstructing position.

What is claimed is:

A pour spout assembly having a fluid passageway defined by a spoutmember and an integral circumferentially continuous inner flange, anouter flange spaced from said inner flange and defining therewith anannular channel for the reception of the end edge of a container, saidflanges adapted to grip said end edge in leakproof relation within saidchannel, said inner flange being of greater length than said outerflange and depending to engage the end disc of a container adjacent itsperiphery at points 180 degrees apart, said inner flange having a groovetherein remote from its free end and facing the passageway, a supportingmember extending across said passageway with one of its ends in saidgroove, means attaching the other end of said member to said spout, apin mounted in said member and resilient means normally urging said pinto 9, depending position below the depending portion of said innerflange.

JOHN KEARSLEY M. HARRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 583,470 Harris June 1, 18971,810,137 Henion June 16, 1931 1,893,139 Gessler Jan. 3, 1933 1,961,585Hauskins June 5, 1934 2,047,242 Young July 14, 1936 2,149,227 Olson eta1 Feb. 28, 1939 2,343,602 White et a1 Mar. 7, 1944 2,350,451 EmbreyJune 6, 1944 2,468,661 Gladstone Apr. 26, 1949

